Summary:
Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 KLX250 Motorycles. The fuel tank could leak from cracks at the spot weld(s) on the side mount tabs die to stress caused by excessive clearence between the fuel tank and a frame-mounted rubber damper.

Consequence:
Fuel Leakage in the presence of spark or flame could cause a fire or explosion possibly resulting in injury or death.

Remedy:
Dealers will inspect and correct the fueltank as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011. Owners may contact Kawasaki Consumer Services Dept. @ 1-866-802-9381

Summary:
Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2011 VN900D, Vulcan Classic LT, Motorcycles. The tire inner tubes have been pinched during the mounting of the tires. Damage to the inner tubes could result in loss of air pressure.

Consequence:
Loss of the air pressure could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:
Dealers will replace any damaged tubes free of charge , The Safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011. Owners may contact Kawasaki Consumer Services Department at 1-866-802-9381

Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV

Summary:
Honda is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 VT705 Motorcycles produced from June 25, 2009, to March 28, 2011, the bank of angle sensor may be incorrectly manfactured created the possibility of an erroneous reading which could cause the engine to stall.

Consequence:
An engine stall, while the motorcycle is being operated, may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy:
Honda will replace the affected bank angle sensors, the recall is estimated to begin on June 20, 2011. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Service at 1-866-784-1870.

Summary: KTM is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 motorcycles manufactured from November 2009 through November 23, 2010. Due to improper hear treatment, the handlebar clamps develop cracks, allowing the handlebar to move from its set position.

Remedy: Authorized KTM dealers will replace the defective clamps for free of charge. The Safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090 for assistance.

Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Administrative Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9253), or go to HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV

Summary:
Polaris is recalling certain model year 2011 Victory Cross Country Motorcycles manufactured from Jan.1, through April 11,2011. The handlebar clamps and/or risers may have been machined incorrectly which could cause the handlebars to slip in the clamps.

Remedy:
Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will test and replace defective riser/clamp assemblies, free of charge, the safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011. Owners may contact Victory Customer Service @ 1-888-704-5290

Summary:
Zero Motorcycle is recalling certain model year 2009 Zero Motorcycles built from Sept. 2, 2009 through Dec. 22, 2009; Model Year 2009 Zero DS Motorcycles built from July 27,2010 through Dec. 28, 2009; Model Year 2010 Zero Motorcycles built from Feb. 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011; and model year 2010 Zero DS Motorcycles built from Jan. 20, 2010 through March 31, 2011. The front brake caliper bracket may experience permanent deformation when subjected to high braking loads; the condition could induce misalignment of the front brake pads with respect to the front brake rotor.

Remedy:
Dealers will replace the front brake caliper bracket with a re-designed component, and replace the front brake pads in case the existing pads experienced abnormal wear. The front brake fluid will also be inspected and, if signs of overheating are noted, it will be replaced and the system will be flushed. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact Zero Motorcycles at 1-888-786-9376 EXT 45

Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to Safercar.gov

Summary:
Triumph is recalling certain model year 2010 ThunderBird and ThunderBird ABS motorcycle manufactured from Sept. 2009 through August 2010. These motorcycles were built with an incompatible thread locker/screw combination at the front fender mounting.

Consequence:
The screws may work loose and the screww heads can contact the side of the front tire, leading to tire deflation, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:
Dealers will install new screws, free of charge. The manufactuer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners may contact Triumph Customer Service Department at 1-678-539-8782

Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4263 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV

Summery:
Ducati is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Multistrada 1200, and model year 2011, Diavel Motorcycles, the electronic steering lock may fail to disengage during the motorcycle “key-on” process. This has been linked directly to a certain revision of the hands free device software. It could result in a situation where the motorcycle’s engine might start while the steering lock is still engaged. A rider could start the motorcycle and attempy to ride away while steering is still locked.

Consequence:
The rider could experience the inability to steer increasing the risk of low speed tip-over or collision, thus increasing the potential for injury to the rider.

Remedy:
The dealer will update the software of the hands free control unit free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact Ducati at 1-800-231-6696

Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to SaferCar.gov

Over 300 motorcyclists roared into downtown Atlanta and surrounded the State Capitol Wednesday March 23, 2011 to protest the recent Georgia State Patrol motorcycle only checkpoints.

Using a $70,000 grant from the National Transportation Highway Safety Administration NHTSA, the State and local officers set up motorcycle only checkpoints on the two main interstates leading into Florida during Daytona’s spring Bike Week.

The checkpoints were located on I-95 and I-75 in the southbound truck weigh stations on Wednesday March 9th.

Newly elected ABATE State Director, Dan Forrest said he was pleased at the turnout and the diversity of the riders who joined the protest.

“(turnout) was beyond expectations and I hope a sign of unity in the biker community.” Forest said. “We had several patch club members from urban riding groups and this was far from the normal group we have attracted in the past.”

Forrest said the speakers called on the State Patrol and the Governor’s office to focus on programs that will save lives and not just profile motorcyclists. “The central point of every speakers message was that money needs to be spent on EDUCATION of the driving public to make them aware of motorcycles. Use the media for public service announcements, bill boards, class room training for new drivers.” Forrest said.

Other speakers pointed out how the interstate checkpoints resembled police actions of totalitarian regimes and not a free republic.

“The roadblocks are a violation of our rights and are a pure attempt at profiling. The Savannah stop had 17 GSP cars, 2 Sheriff’s cars, 1 DOT car, a van filming and photographing every biker and a helicopter. This sounds like a Border Crossing in a communist country and has nothing to do with safety.”

The State Patrol nor the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety did not respond to a request for a statement. However, Patrol officers have indicated they will hold five more one day checkpoints throughout the year.

Forrest said ABATE of Georgia will continue to lobby against the checkpoints and added that under his leadership he hopes ABATE can become a voice for all motorcyclists and expand its mission to fight any and all legislation that unfairly targets motorcycle owners and riders. “ABATE of Georgia has suffered through some very poor leadership over the past few years and has spent too much time and effort on the ‘Freedom of Choice ‘ bill or rather lack of it. We have been known as the helmet law people and have been shunned by many riding groups because of that fact.” He continued, “We have taken the first step in unity and we must continue to grow as one voice.”

It was my intention to write this editorial AFTER I returned from Daytona Bike Week.

You know what they say about “good intentions” right? There’s a road paved to you-know-where with them, and sometimes in this business I feel like I’m headed there in the express lane with the throttle wide open.

Since the schedule won’t cooperate, I’m writing this a few hours before leaving for the annual spring motorcycle migration. I fully expect this year’s event to be well attended, despite the lingering economic uncertainty.

I believe most of you are as tired of winter as I am. Hopefully the lower hotel/motel rates (than in years past) should offset the higher gasoline prices and lure you down to spend a few days basking in the early spring Florida sunshine.

For some of you that will mean passing through my home state of Georgia. If you take I-75 or I-95, I apologize for the discrimination you will likely experience on the ride through.
Normally Georgia is considered motorcycle friendly.

However, we have pimped out our troopers to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a measly $70,000.

Let’s put this into perspective. For less than the cost of two patrol cars and a motorcycle, the Georgia Highway Patrol allowed itself to be hired out to perform discriminatory traffic profiling, under the guise of “safety checkpoints.”

In their press release the GSP said they were focusing on high speed motorcycles and reckless riding and would be checking for non-DOT approved helmets, valid tags and motorcycle endorsements.

I’m all for safety but how does a check point deter high speed motorcycle riders. And when did an improper tag become unsafe?

What’s worse is the GSP spokesperson had the audacity to claim the stop should only take about a minute for the rider who has all the proper paperwork.

I don’t know about you but it takes me more than a minute to stop, get off the bike, take off my helmet and gloves and get my wallet, find my insurance card and license and then suit back up.
The brain trust who wrote that press release obviously never rode a motorcycle.

What chaps my ass the most isn’t the “safety spin” or “it’s not really an inconvenience” spin the Georgia State Patrol is putting on this. What chaps me the most is how eager they are to participate in blatant discrimination for a little overtime pay.

Is there nobody in a position of authority in the State Patrol that has the moral turpitude to stand up and say, “This is wrong and we should not participate in it, regardless of how much money the Federal Government is throwing at us.

Not to mention these checkpoints will be conducted on interstate weigh stations. The same brain trust who wrote the GSP press release must have thought it would be a good idea to mix motorcycles and 18 wheelers.

I don’t know about your state, but Georgia has made some deep cuts to the State Patrol budget. I’ve got a good source inside the department who told me that troopers have been instructed to stay in one spot during the bulk of their shift and not drive any more than they absolutely have to.

As a former law enforcement officer I can tell you that sitting in one spot for a long period of time makes for a boring shift. I can’t really blame them for filling their time with checkpoints, but I do blame them for participating in “discriminatory” checkpoints.

In a perfect world individual State Patrol officers would step up and complain about this type of enforcement and refuse to condone it.

In this world we’ll have to rely on legislation that has been introduced by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) to block the Department of Transportation (who funds NHTSA) from giving grants that target motorcycles only. Not only would it stop the Georgia checkpoints it would also stop the checkpoints that New York State has been doing. (corrected 03-04-2011 – The New York checkpoints are State funded, not with NHTSA grants.)

I’m trying my best not to Chicken Little this issue and cry “foul” at every perceived injustice to motorcyclists, so if there’s someone out there who can justify these checkpoints, I’d love to hear your argument for their validity.